Wyoming Territory passed a county library law in 1886. The Laramie County Public Library in Cheyenne dates its founding as August, 1886, and can thus claim to be the first countywide public library in the United States. It will be celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. I have a previous post on the work of Mabel Wilkinson in organizing county library service in Wyoming. A comprehensive effort to establish county libraries as a model for public library development came from California starting in 1909. I have a previous post on that effort.

Thanks for the link to the history of the Laramie County Public Library System. I would have never found it otherwise. How about labeling it "Library History" instead of "Library System". I call your attention to the following post:http://libraryhistorybuff.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-favorite-individual-library-history.html

The sign outside the library still makes the claim to be the first county library. The building is strongly reminiscent of H.H. Richardson's lovely libraries from a few years before this one was built.